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10 Dec 2016 3:48:53am

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I read with midwifery interest your comment that appears to be laced with fear and authoritarianism Alison. I respect that we all will have different opinions on this subject and many others and that is what progresses the issues that modern birthing women face. I would like to add to your comment. One of the problems is that most modern Australian midwives and doctors although educated in 'normal birth' may not have the privilege of enough experience with women and normal the progress of labour and birth that is not the same for every woman. Much of modern practice in the medicalised institutional model has changed the role of the midwife to medico-technical assistant. In many instances what could be normal birth for women transitions into accelerated labour and abnormal birth by intervention. To create a rounded balance for women and this debate, requires a united effort by women, midwives and doctors, to first understand the variations in normal progress of labour and birth. Then to gain sufficient experience with women in normal birth, before progressing to education and practice in necessary medical intervention. Normal birth is the privilege; being with women who capably gives birth to their babies with minimal professional assistance is the ultimate experience in learning. 'Giving birth' is also experiential and not only researched learning for women. The worst we can do to tip the balance, is to ignore the voices of women, or coerce and bully them, wherever we practice our professional skills.

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